Lexicology and Lexicography

Zainab Jaafar Auda

April, 2025
Course in Applied Linguistics

Language is a dynamic and complex system that serves as a primary means of

communication among humans. Within this system, words play a crucial role, and the study
of these words is divided into two significant fields: lexicology and lexicography. The current
essay tries to shed light on these significant fields by tackling their definitions, scope, and
the interconnectedness between them and highlighting their role in understanding and
documenting language.

Definitions:

According to the Encyclopedia Britannica (EB Website, 2025), lexicology is “the study of the
words in a given language, including their origins, evolution, meanings, usage,
and contexts.” Whereas lexicography is “the compiling, editing, or writing of a dictionary”
(ibid).

Taking into consideration the etymology of the two terms, they might be re-introduced as:

 Lexicology (from Greek lexis "word" + logos "study") is the scientific study of words,
examining their structure, meaning, evolution, and relationships within a language's
vocabulary.

 Lexicography (from lexis + graphē "writing") is the practice of compiling dictionaries,

focusing on the systematic recording and presentation of words for practical use
(Dash, 2007).

Historical Development of Lexicology

Lexicology has roots in ancient civilizations, where early scholars compiled word lists for
educational and administrative purposes. For example, Sumerians (3200 BCE) created
cuneiform word lists to teach literacy. Later, medieval scholars like John of Garland (1218
CE) contributed to lexicological studies by categorizing Latin vocabulary (Encyclopedia
Britannica, 2025)

In modern times, lexicology has expanded to include corpus linguistics, where large text
databases analyze word frequency and usage patterns. This empirical approach allows
lexicologists to study collocations, idioms, and semantic shifts in real-world language use
(Kirkness, 2004).

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Scope and Dimensions of lexicology (Schmid, 2012)

Lexicology encompasses the following areas:

1. Etymology: word origins.

2. Lexical Structures: Word fields, synonymy, antonymy (e.g., "happy" vs. "joyful").

3. Lexical Semantics: Word meanings and their relationships (e.g., polysemy in "bank").

4. Word Formation: Processes like compounding ("blackboard") and derivation

("happiness").

It is interested in studying words in two main dimensions:

1. Synchronic: Analyzes words at a specific time (e.g., modern English collocations).

2. Diachronic: Traces historical changes (e.g., the semantic shift of "mouse" from
animal to computer device).

The Evolution and Impact of Lexicography (Kirkness, 2004)

The Dual Nature of Lexicography

Lexicography is traditionally defined as the "art and craft of writing a dictionary," but
Kirkness expands this narrow view to encompass both practice (compiling dictionaries)
and theory (metalexicography, or the study of dictionaries). While lexicographers act as
descriptive linguists, their work transcends pure linguistics, requiring interdisciplinary
knowledge in fields like information technology, history, and social sciences.

The advent of computers has revolutionized lexicography, enabling the creation of

vast corpora (text databases) that provide unique linguistic data. However, Kirkness
cautions against "computerphoria", emphasizes human’s role in words discrimination,
example selection, and cultural contextualization, regardless to the technology
advancement.

The Dictionary: Structure and Typology

Dictionaries are prototypical lexical reference works, but their forms vary widely. Kirkness
distinguishes between:

1. Linguistic vs. Encyclopedic Information: Dictionaries focus on word forms, meanings,

and usage (e.g., prepositions, idioms), while encyclopedias deal with extralinguistic

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 facts (e.g., biographies, historical events). However, the line blurs in "encyclopedic
dictionaries," which blend both (e.g., Reader’s Digest Great Illustrated Dictionary).
2. Macro- and Micro-Structure:
o Macro-structure: serves as its core organizational structure. These entries can
be arranged either alphabetically (most common) or thematically (e.g., by
subject or semantic field). Such entries require clear distinctions between
main entries and sub-entries (e.g., homographs).
o Micro-structure: The detailed information within entries, including spelling,
pronunciation, definitions, examples, and usage notes. Effective micro-
structure balances brevity and clarity, often employing controlled defining
vocabularies in learner dictionaries.

Categorization of Dictionaries (ibid)

Kirkness categorizes dictionaries along two primary aspects: by

function and by audience. Functional classifications include:

1. Monolingual dictionaries (e.g., OED for English)

2. Bilingual/multilingual dictionaries (e.g., Oxford-Hachette French-

English)

3. Specialized reference works like thesauruses (e.g., Roget's),

etymological dictionaries, and technical glossaries

Regarding audience specialization, he identifies:

 Children's dictionaries (e.g., Scholastic Children's Dictionary) with

simplified definitions and illustrations

 Learner's dictionaries (Monolingual Language Dictionariess (hereafter

MLD) like Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary) featuring controlled
defining vocabularies

 Scholarly dictionaries (e.g., Middle English Dictionary) with exhaustive

historical documentation

The digital revolution has transformed these categories through:

 Hyperlinked entries connecting related terms

 Multimedia integration (audio pronunciations, video examples)

 Dynamic updating allowing real-time additions of neologisms

 Adaptive interfaces for different user groups (toggleable between

simple/advanced modes)

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Lexicography in Applied Linguistics

Lexicography intersects with applied linguistics in several key areas:

1. Language Teaching and Learning: Pedagogical lexicography modifies dictionaries to

learners’ needs. For instance, monolingual learners’ dictionaries (henceforth
MLDs) like Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary simplify definitions, use illustrative
examples, and highlight grammatical patterns. Bilingual dictionaries remain vital for
early-stage learners.
2. Translation: Professional translators rely on specialized dictionaries (e.g., technical
glossaries) and bilingual works. Lexicographers and translators share a focus on
semantic precision and cross-linguistic equivalence.
3. Language Planning: Dictionaries standardize spelling, grammar, and usage,
influencing language policy. For example, Webster’s Third New International
Dictionary sparked debate by prioritizing descriptive over prescriptive norms,
reflecting evolving societal attitudes toward language.

Interdependence and core differences between Lexicology and Lexicography (Schmid,

2012)
 Lexicology provides the theoretical foundation for lexicography, informing how
words should be analyzed and classified.

 Lexicography applies these theories concretely, translating linguistic research into

usable reference materials.

Core differences

Aspect Lexicology Lexicography

Goal Theoretical understanding of words Practical compilation of dictionaries
Approach Systematic, language-independent User-centric, language-specific
Output Academic research, linguistic theories Dictionaries, glossaries
Flexibility Rigid (follows linguistic principles) Adaptive (prioritizes user needs)

Conclusion

While lexicology and lexicography both center on words, the former is a descriptive
science exploring lexical systems, and the latter is a prescriptive art crafting practical tools.
Their interaction ensures that dictionaries reflect accurate, accessible, and contextually
relevant linguistic knowledge.

References

Dash, N. S. (2007) “The art of lexicography”. In, Vesna Muhvic&Dimanovski and Lelija
Sočanac (Eds.) Encyclopedia of Life Support Systems. Oxford: EOLSS Publishers,
Pp. 225-276.

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EB Website. (2025). Encyclopedia Britannica Website at:
https://www.britannica.com/technology/lexicography

Kirkness, A. (2004). Lexicography. In A. Davies & C. Elder (Eds.), The handbook of applied
linguistics (pp. [54-81]). Blackwell Publishing.

Schmid, H.-J. (2012). Lexicology. In B. Kortmann (Ed.), Theories and methods in linguistics.
Wörterbücher zur Sprach- und Kommunikationswissenschaft (WSK). (S. J.
Schierholz & H. E. Wiegand, Eds.).